Club press secretary James Penwell (left) and treasurer Bruce Morris throw some snags on the barbie for hungry members and interested players. Photo by Matt Stewart.

After a stretch of appalling weather the tennis gods shone on Queenstown Tennis Club, allowing an uninterrupted afternoon of play for the club's season-starting open day on Saturday.

"As usual, it's another day in paradise," club president Teresa Chapman said of the sunny but blustery spring afternoon.

About 50 people - members and also those interested in joining - played across the club's four courts, which are nestled in Queenstown's Botanical Gardens - this reporter even managing a cheeky set of doubles between assignmentsThe club had a roster of 160 members and more were welcome, she said.

Mrs Chapman said the turnout was excellent and the court conditions good, both signalling an auspicious start to the season.